Solid-State Power Amp Adventures

Discussion in 'Power Amps' started by purr1n, Jan 24, 2017.

  1. InsanityOne

    InsanityOne Acquaintance

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    Thanks for the link to your impressions, I appreciate it! If I may ask though, what repairs did you have done to the amp to solve the issues? Just a full recap and connector swap plus general maintenance or what? The parts for that are fairly inexpensive and my local vintage stereo shop could do the work for me. If it was something more involved I'm not sure how I would source parts / get it fixed though.


    Vidar? Hmm, I used to have a fully Schiit setup in the past, but moved away for it to try new things. Having owned an original Gungnir MB in the past though, I actually switched to this DAC (for more reasons than just sound) and I actually prefer it. But, everyone's ears are different of course. I haven't heard the Gungnir MB A2 though. I also really like this DAC because it has an external power-supply and a dedicated volume control which basically makes it a pre-amp. (Which would make it a good pairing with a power amp I think)
     
  2. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    @direstraitsfan98 How has your time with the Kinki ex-m1 been so far? I noticed you mentioned on Audiogon that you bought it, and here as well...

    What power amps have you had before this? A comparison would be really great!
     
  3. direstraitsfan98

    direstraitsfan98 D2Girls v2.0

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    @msommers I’ve been meaning to post about it here... I already talked to everyone I thought might be interested about it like mrtea. Or at least, I figure he’d pass along the info to others. The thing is, I already posted about it extensively on audiogon, and it felt like a lazy, low effort thing to do to just copy and paste the review here. As well, I sort of figured that the amp itself isn’t really the kind of thing that most people here are looking for, the price tag is a little shocking (or like, I thought it would be to you guys) at $2400 USD. Anyway, I’ll try to modify my original post I made on audiogon and post it here.
     
  4. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    Can you elaborate on this part? I mean, I know what this amp is and am wondering if we've noticed similar qualities about it. :D
     
  5. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    I'm a few months away from having my first set of proper 2 channel speakers (1994 KEF reference model Three's), and I'm looking for an amplifier solution.

    I'm looking for a simple, affordable solution. Mainly I need a preamp with a remote. Decent internal DAC but option to use external, phono is bonus, tuner is bonus, EQ is huge bonus.

    Right now I'm looking at the Emotiva TA-100. It ticks most of the boxes for me. The guy selling them said I should get at least 100wpc amp to drive them, and the TA-100 is only 90wpc @ 4ohm.

    So my main question is this; could I use the TA-100 internal amp plus a separate A-150 to biamp the speakers? I don't really understand how gain works (is it set by the pre or amp?) So I'm not sure if the different wattage would cause a volume mismatch.

    The bonus of this would be to get the TA-100 now and the A-150 later. Easier for the wife to understand. Anyway, I'm open to suggestions in the $700 price range.
     
  6. dBel84

    dBel84 Friend

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    Forget the 100wpc nonsense, seriously most retailers are clueless.

    Look at vintage and second hand

    I have a bit of an adcom thing going but for $100 you cannot go wrong. https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649464294-adcom-gfa535-mk1/

    Find a second hand or even new Freya and you will be a very happy camper.

    .. dB
     
  7. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    He's a family friend and he's owned them since new. He said he's tried over a dozen different amps and anything under 100wpc wasn't enough. Of course that was in the 90s and he eventually settled on a Mark Levinson with 100wpc but he said it's sometimes not enough.

    Good call on the used adcoms, but I'll pass on the Freya and Saga mainly due to the relay clicking, it drives me crazy. l was thinking about buying new mainly for WAF.
     
  8. monacelli

    monacelli Friend

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    Funny to see this pop up. I just picked one up off ebay last week, in the original box for about $150 shipped. Sadly Fedex dropped the dang thing and the transformers and bottom plate went a bit caddywhompus. So I have a little more by way of restoration than I bargained for. I can't attest to how it sounds yet, but it's a really intriguing overall package, especially if you're looking for something simple, cheap, and relatively small that isn't class D. My understanding is that the 535 is a scaled down version of the 555 originally designed by Nelson Pass for Adcom. (Aside: I think the 555 is one of the last amplifiers with bipolar output devices that Pass designed.) The topology is really simple, based on a Triple Darlington output stage, and the schematics and service manual are readily available. The overall package, getting a clean 60 wpc in a medium sized form factor and the Pass influence made it an attractive buy at less than 2 bills. Now just have to get 'er running
     
  9. willsw

    willsw Friend

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    Looking at the KEFs I'd think that 90wpc would be plenty and bi-amping is unnecessary. You could always add more later if you thought you needed it.
    As another option, the PSaudio Sprout100 seems to have been positively received and is probably wife-approved. You might look at used Nuprime options as well, which I've heard good things about. If you're specifically looking for Class A/B, you might find a good used NAD or Cambridge, though I don't know anything about the supposed quality of Cambridge stuff. Their new Topaz series seems in your budget and the SR20 is 100wpc.

     
  10. dBel84

    dBel84 Friend

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    Always best to have first hand experience that you trust and totally get WAF, it has driven many decisions in my time.

    Another product to consider is the Rogue audio sphinx, auditioned this amp with the Maggies and was hugely impressed. A good friend actually ended up buying one and it sounds excellent in his set up.

    I know there is not a lot of love for hypex modules but in this hybrid amp combination, it works very well

    .. dB
     
  11. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    The sprout is a piece of shit. Both version 1 and 2 sound awful. One day ban for recommending crappy gear.
     
  12. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    I'm partial to Hegel amps, I have an H360 powering my KEF Reference 1s. They control KEF speakers really well (KEF has used Hegel in their exhibits), they are neutral but punchy where they need to be. Just saw this on Audiogon, The price is right. There's also an H80 (the next model) for the same price on Ebay. Maybe a bit underpowered for the Reference 3s, though. If you can go to $1.5K, this would be perfect methinks.
     
  13. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    The H80 is fairly solid, but it did run out of juice on some of my lower efficiency bookshelfs. You need to step up in the Hegel line to get more power. Also no tuner, no phono, no tone controls/EQ. Plus the DAC is pretty laclustre and boring. Probably better off with a Modi 3 and focusing on the other aspects for the amp IMO.
     
  14. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    I have an H360 for ample power, but I was trying to follow more-or-less the OPs price constraint. Agree that the DAC is meh (even on the H360), which is why I use an external DAC (Yggdrasil A2). The old KEF Reference line is relatively efficient (91 dBm) compared with current members of the Reference line (85 dBm). 6 Db is 4x. So, I guesstimated that you can drive the old References with 1/4 of the power of the new References: 250W (H360)/4 = 75W (H80).
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2018
  15. Greg121986

    Greg121986 Almost "Made"

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    Nuforce STA200. This thing is so insanely good. https://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NUSTA200 They show up used around 400-450 and they are on closeout sale for $500. I've used it with my Focal Electras and I loved it. It's on my ELAC Unifi B5s now with the same level of fast, powerful bass and super clean sound. I'm super impressed by this thing. I'd go for it over any Emotiva amp.

    There are 2 drawbacks. As a minor detail, it is only single ended. The more difficult issue is the binding posts. They are very close to the edge of the chassis, so your only option is bananas or bare wire. These are negligible to me because it just sounds so good.
     
  16. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    BUT BUT BUT, Amir sez it measures like poooooo!

    However, subjectively, i like mine just fine. Apparently i like pooo.
     
  17. Greg121986

    Greg121986 Almost "Made"

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    I've heard enough stereo systems from hundreds of dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars, such that I'm not concerned with what Amir's measurements may or may not indicate. I like the sound of the STA200 in the situation where I have used it and for this reason I can and will continue to recommend it.
     
  18. InsanityOne

    InsanityOne Acquaintance

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    I have been doing some more digging around as I try to (indefinitely) spec. out my upcoming Hifiman / 2-channel solid-state system. Keeping with the same trend of "vintage" audio, has anyone had any experience with the early Accuphase gear? I've been eyeing the P-300 amp and C-200 pre-amp (and their later variants). Based on a lot of old forum posts I've been digging up around the web, it would seem that many users actually ended up preferring Accuphase equipment over McIntosh, Krell, etc. of that same era. As always, the research continues.
     
  19. uncola

    uncola Friend

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  20. bengo

    bengo Friend

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